The methods of forging ancient jade artifacts are numerous and can generally be divided into two categories: "later creation of ancient jade" and "modern jade imitating antiquity." The former includes "alteration of ancient jade" and "later carving of ancient jade."
It is difficult to detect the alteration of ancient jade, and it can pass off inferior items as superior ones, so it is frequently used by forgers. Large pieces of ancient jade passed down from ancient times are always few and far between in terms of complete forms. For various purposes, those who alter jade try to reshape them into small pieces based on the original artifact's form and decoration, or they repair incomplete artifacts. They focus on coloring and dulling areas that might easily reveal the true nature of the alterations, such as tool marks. For example, a jade bi (a type of circular ritual jade) that is already broken may be...